Absences

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT ABSENCES - PAGE 3

To the Editor: It's all so simple, isn't it? Just open the schools more hours a day more days a year, and our educational problems will disappear. I've also heard that the proper incantation spoken over lead will instantly transmute that metal to gold, but I don't believe that either. Last June, in a letter published by The Morning Call, I expressed my concern over the more than 4,200 absences accumulated by my students over a two-year period, an average of approximately 17 per individual.

High absenteeism, particularly at Liberty High School, is probably going to lead to new attendance regulations in the Bethlehem Area School District. Acting Superintendent Thomas J. Doluisio, who was concerned about absenteeism last year when he was principal at Liberty, told the School Board recently, "We have a major problem at Liberty High School. It almost an epidemic." A study covering the period Sept. 3, 1985, to April 8 of this year (135 school days) shows that 1,017 students, or 51 percent of Liberty's enrollment of 1,994, have been absent for 10 or more days.

The number of student absences due to flu-like symptoms apparently has peaked in local schools as educators generally reported decreases yesterday in absentee rates. One school, however, was added to those closed due to illnesses. All Saints Regional Elementary School in Phillipsburg will not re-open until Jan. 6. All Saints High School also has many students out with illness, but it remained open. As the winter recess approaches, the dilemma about whether to close schools due to illness is ending, but only until students return in early January.

To the Editor: People are concerned, and rightly so, because students don't learn as much as they could or should. To combat this situation we see the establishment of new curricula and requirements; any teaching method labeled "innovative" is embraced enthusiastically. Anyone with a new gimmick -- ITA, New Math, open concept schools -- stands an excellent chance of being labeled an educational messiah. Underlying these sometimes desperate attempts to improve learning would seem to be the unfortunate assumption that the failure of students to achieve high standards is solely the fault of inefficient educational systems and poor teaching.

When and if Erik Kratz will be back has yet to be known. All we know is that the Phillies catcher, who has had a prominent role because of Carlos Ruiz's absences (restricted list and DL), has a medial meniscus tear in his left knee that will require surgery. The team annouced that his recovery time will not be known until after his surgery. Kratz, who turns 33 on June 15, is hitting .229 with eight home runs (one off his career high) and 22 RBIs (four off his career high)

The Carbon County Office of Children and Youth Services reviewed bylaw amendments last night and accepted the resignation of a board member. The amendments, presented by the Rev. H. Wilson Scott of Lehighton R.4, would place the board on a bi-monthly meeting basis beginning in January, when they are scheduled for adoption, provide for a recommendation to the commissioners for dismissal of a member after two unexcused absences, and also after three...

Northampton Area School District administrators are urging sophomores and juniors to be in school tomorrow - or be prepared to prove they were ill if absent. High School Principal Frank Kovacs said the traditional "knock-off" day for seniors is tomorrow and said the primary concern is about underclassmen who also decide to take the day off. Kovacs said the administration is interested particularly in the underclassmen because it does not want the day to become a senior, junior and sophomore knock-off day. He said that, in time, the administration will deal with the senior knock- off day, which has been unofficially observed for more than 20 years.

Concerning the John Acerra report in the Bethlehem Area School District, a key issue was not mentioned: What did the superintendent's office do when "they (teachers) complained about Acerra's tardiness and frequent absences"? Did the superintendent or his assistants investigate? Did they make any surprise visits? Did they, at least, call frequently during normal school hours to see if Acerra was in school? How did they track his productivity and if it suffered? Did they discuss the frequent absences with Acerra?

The red 1986 Pontiac Fiero was parked in the hall since September while students at the Career Institute of Technology wondered who would win it at the end of the school year. The end of the school year is here and yesterday, James Honszer, 17, who studies in the school's auto body program, won the car donated by Slate Belt Buick. Honszer wants to drive the car "a little bit" and then plans to sell it along with his other car, pooling the funds to buy something different. "I had a feeling it was me," said Honszer, a resident of Nazareth.

More than 1,100 students were absent in the Northampton Area School District yesterday, and many of them reportedly stayed away because the day was supposed to be a holiday. Yesterday was a school day to make up for one of the days lost during the teachers strike in September. But it also was a lovely spring day and that may have contributed to the high absenteeism, according to Northampton Junior High School Principal Thomas Ortwein. Students already had lost the holidays for George Washington's birthday and Martin Luther King Day and yesterday was designated the final make-up day. Of a total enrollment of 5,614 in the district, 1,119 students were absent yesterday.